New technique to identify rare stem cells, study shows

October 7, 2014 12:44 PM

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Deep within the bone marrow resides a type of cells known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These immature cells can differentiate into cells that produce bone, cartilage, fat, or muscle – a trait that researchers have tried to exploit for tissue repair.

In an effort to make such therapies a reality, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), alongside a team from the Singapore-MIT Alliance in Research and Technology (SMART), claim to have identified three physical characteristics of MSCs that can distinguish them from other imm...